Lufthansa and SAP issue blockchain challenge

Lufthansa Innovation Hub and SAP.iO Berlin Foundry, one of the first dedicated enterprise solution and machine learning accelerators in Europe, have issued an "Aviation Blockchain Challenge" to investigate blockchain technology solutions in the aviation industry.

Thorsten Dirks, a member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and head of Eurowings and Aviation Services, gave further details about the contest in a July 18 press release.

"Blockchain is one of the game-changing technologies of our time, which we are systematically addressing as part of our digital strategy for the Lufthansa Group," he explained. "We look forward to discussing innovative solutions and initiating experiments together with our partner SAP at the Aviation Blockchain Challenge. By combining our aviation industry expertise with the blockchain technology of a world market leader, we are creating the ideal worldwide framework for addressing blockchain entrepreneurs with an affinity for travel and mobility."

"SAP is excited to partner with Lufthansa on this startup innovation challenge to reinvent the traveler experience, airline operations and supply chain with blockchain," said Deepak Krishnamurthy, Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President of SAP. “With our industry-leading SAP Leonardo Blockchain platform and Lufthansa’s market leadership and expertise in Aviation, we can foster a new innovation ecosystem that can potentially transform the entire travel industry.”

Winning teams will be able to access SAP's Blockchain-as-a-Service to build on their ideas and will also be allowed to use major areas of the Lufthansa Group's aviation industry access. Selected participants will take part in a targeted mentoring program wherein they will be supported by the Lufthansa Innovation Hub and SAP as they fine-tune their solutions.

The three categories under which applicants can submit their ideas are:

1. "Traveler challenge" Solutions that offer clear added value for passengers with the goal of making the travel experience more efficient and seamless.

3. "Supplier challenge” Innovations that have the potential to advance aspects of the aviation supply chain related to maintenance and other processes.

To apply or to find out further information, visit the Aviation Blockchain Challenge website. Applications can be submitted until August 31, 2018, at which point the best three ideas in each category will enter the mentoring program. The selected teams will be able to pitch their idea at the Lufthansa Innovation Forum at Lufthansa's headquarters in Frankfurt on October 23, 2018.